Deliveroo launches compostable takeaway box

Online food delivery platform Deliveroo has launched a new compostable takeaway box aimed at helping restaurants move to more sustainable packaging.

Designed by students from Sheffield Hallam University and produced by Biopak, the boxes are made from PLA-lined paperboard and are industrially compostable where facilities exist. Featuring a new locking mechanism, they are intended to replace conventional plastic-lined containers and reduce plastic use.

The new packaging, which is available from the Deliveroo packaging webstore, was formed as part of Deliveroo’s first Sustainable Packaging Challenge in 2024. The 2024 project challenged apprenticeship students on the Professional Packaging BSc to create an innovative, sustainable and cost-effective design to prevent spillages and maintain food at the right temperature. 

The winning design was created by apprentices Josephine Cooper and William Shaw who developed a new sealing system which uses additional folds in the cardboard to create a more secure locking mechanism.

Jen Bagshaw, head of packaging at Deliveroo, said: “We are constantly seeking innovative solutions to global challenges. Partnering with the talented apprentices at Sheffield Hallam University has been an inspiring journey, allowing us to champion the next generation of sustainable packaging designers. By providing the platform and financial backing to turn the students’ creative vision into a reality, we are thrilled to see this solution officially launch on our webstore for our partners to purchase.” 

William Shaw and Josephine Cooper, winners of Deliveroo’s Sustainable Packaging challenge and the designers of the new packaging, said: “We focused on creating a locking mechanism that performs in the real world, and we’re proud to know our work can now be used by restaurants, reaching customer front doors across the UK. We hope this proves that sustainable packaging can be both highly functional and cost-effective.”